1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; providing for jurisdiction for petitions for harassment 
1.3 	restraining orders;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, 
1.4 	subdivisions 2, 3a.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 2.Restraining order; court jurisdiction. ~~A person who is a victim of~~ 
1.8 	~~harassment may seek a restraining order from the district court in the manner provided in~~ 
1.9 	~~this section.~~ (a) An application for relief under this section may be filed in the county of 
1.10 	residence of either party or in the county in which the alleged harassment occurred. There 
1.11 	are no residency requirements that apply to a petition for a harassment restraining order.
1.12 	(b) The parent, guardian, or stepparent of a minor who is a victim of harassment may 
1.13 	seek a restraining order from the district court on behalf of the minor.

1.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 609.748, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 3a.Filing fee; cost of service. The filing fees for a restraining order under 
1.16 	this section are waived for the petitioner if the petition alleges acts that would constitute a 
1.17 	violation of section 609.749, ~~subdivision~~ subdivision 2~~or~~, 3, 4, or 5, or sections 609.342
1.18 	to 609.3451. The court administrator and the sheriff of any county in this state shall 
1.19 	perform their duties relating to service of process without charge to the petitioner. The 
1.20 	court shall direct payment of the reasonable costs of service of process if served by a 
1.21 	private process server when the sheriff is unavailable or if service is made by publication. 
1.22 	The court may direct a respondent to pay to the court administrator the petitioner's filing 
2.1 	fees and reasonable costs of service of process if the court determines that the respondent 
2.2 	has the ability to pay the petitioner's fees and costs.